I don't know if anyone is following Oryx's site (I shared a link in this thread back in March):
https://www.oryxspioenkop.com/

With a couple of helpers he's maintaining a list of all the OSINT-recorded major equipment losses (aircraft, armored and soft-skinned vehicles, air defence systems and artillery pieces) for both sides.

Russia:
https://www.oryxspioenkop.com/2022/02/attack-on-europe-documenting-equipment.html

Ukraine:
https://www.oryxspioenkop.com/2022/02/attack-on-europe-documenting-ukrainian.html

In raw numbers, to date there are open-access photos of 5333 Russian losses vs. 1517 Ukrainian.

Oh, and there have also been a *lot* of mysterious explosions in Russia's rear areas recently. Including in occupied Crimea, which has (believe it or not) become a popular tourist destination for Russians.

These folk got some interesting holiday photos:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ll5nGeUcuUI

Unsurprisingly. some decided to cut their vacations short:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tt1SQrWafOE

Quote from: sheddi on August 23, 2022, 03:41:01 PMI don't know if anyone is following Oryx's site (I shared a link in this thread back in March):
https://www.oryxspioenkop.com/

With a couple of helpers he's maintaining a list of all the OSINT-recorded major equipment losses (aircraft, armored and soft-skinned vehicles, air defence systems and artillery pieces) for both sides.

Russia:
https://www.oryxspioenkop.com/2022/02/attack-on-europe-documenting-equipment.html

Ukraine:
https://www.oryxspioenkop.com/2022/02/attack-on-europe-documenting-ukrainian.html

In raw numbers, to date there are open-access photos of 5333 Russian losses vs. 1517 Ukrainian.

Those articles are fascinating.  Reading the latest one about Belgium's shameful missteps regarding weapons procurement, firesale sell offs and then desperate attempts to re-acquire some semblence of heavy weaponry when they realized "Hey! Turns out the world is a dangerous place!", almost made me ill.  If I were a Belgian, I'd be one seriously pissed off taxpayer.

Quote from: sheddi on August 23, 2022, 03:45:15 PMOh, and there have also been a *lot* of mysterious explosions in Russia's rear areas recently. Including in occupied Crimea, which has (believe it or not) become a popular tourist destination for Russians.

These folk got some interesting holiday photos:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ll5nGeUcuUI

Unsurprisingly. some decided to cut their vacations short:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tt1SQrWafOE

Not to worry, comrade.  No listen to decadent western media lies.  Is only minor accident during fire fighting exercise.  Absolutely no damage to person or property.  Appropriate party officials are being rounded up and summarily punished for incompetence.  All is normal in sacred Russian lands of Crimea ...

The 'MacGuyvered' Weapons in Ukraine's Arsenal
The 'MacGuyvered' Weapons in Ukraine's Arsenal

Quoteto the astonishment of weapons experts, Ukraine has continued to destroy Russian targets with slow-moving Turkish-made Bayraktar attack drones and inexpensive, plastic aircraft modified to drop grenades and other munitions.

Quotethe engineering ingenuity of the Ukrainians lies in stark contrast to the slow, plodding, doctrinal nature of the Russian advance.

Quote"With the Moskva, they MacGyvered a very effective anti-ship system that they put on the back of a truck to make it mobile and move it around," General Frederick B. Hodges, a former top U.S. Army commander in Europe.  The striking of the Moskva was, in essence, the Neptune's proof of concept; it was the first time the new Ukrainian weapon was used in an actual war, and it took down Russia's flagship in the Black Sea.

QuoteA senior Pentagon official said Ukrainian forces had put American-supplied HARM anti-radiation missiles on Soviet-designed MiG-29 fighter jets — something that no air force had ever done.  Ukraine managed to rejigger targeting sensors to allow pilots to fire the American missile from their Soviet-era aircraft. "They have actually successfully integrated it," the senior official told reporters during a Pentagon briefing. He spoke on the condition of anonymity per Biden administration rules.

Oh, man, I thought it was here that I saw they were 3D printing modifications so that munitions that aren't designed to be dropped from aircraft could be dropped from drones.  I'm going to have to find that again and post the images.  I really hate that it's coming from something so awful, but the ingenuity is truly incredible and it's just wild to me that they are literally using basic 3D printers and toys and old junk to stave off what is supposedly one of the most formidable military forces on the planet.


Found it!  Of course it was in a 3D printing sub:


https://old.reddit.com/r/3Dprinting/comments/wtxobz/ukrainians_are_3d_printing_tail_fins_to_adapt_old/


Edit: Wtf?  Removed?  I'm literally looking at it?  Whatever.  Here's a screenshot from the post:

They say necessity is the mother of invention, and well, they've got a pressing need.  

QuoteI really hate that it's coming from something so awful, but the ingenuity is truly incredible

Well said, Anianna.  

The guy I know in Kyiv has started up an animal rescue organization and I sent him some money to help out.  As a thank you, he sent all the donors some of the collectible stamps that were issued to commemorate the soldiers on Snake Island.  Here's what I got from him:

You cannot view this attachment.

Nice timing, given the recent successes by the Ukraine military!    I'm thinking about getting the whole thing framed!

Quote from: EBuff75 on September 11, 2022, 03:47:16 PMThe guy I know in Kyiv has started up an animal rescue organization and I sent him some money to help out.  As a thank you, he sent all the donors some of the collectible stamps that were issued to commemorate the soldiers on Snake Island.  Here's what I got from him:

You cannot view this attachment.

Nice timing, given the recent successes by the Ukraine military!    I'm thinking about getting the whole thing framed!

You absolutely should get it framed.  I'm so envious that you have that stamp.  I really wanted one when it came out and had begun researching how to do that, but the entire printing sold out in a matter of days.  

I too am delirously happy the Ukrainians are kicking some serious Ruskie ass.

Quote from: majorhavoc on September 11, 2022, 04:32:11 PM

Quote from: EBuff75 on September 11, 2022, 03:47:16 PMThe guy I know in Kyiv has started up an animal rescue organization and I sent him some money to help out.  As a thank you, he sent all the donors some of the collectible stamps that were issued to commemorate the soldiers on Snake Island.  Here's what I got from him:

Nice timing, given the recent successes by the Ukraine military!    I'm thinking about getting the whole thing framed!

You absolutely should get it framed.  I'm so envious that you have that stamp.  I really wanted one when it came out and had begun researching how to do that, but the entire printing sold out in a matter of days. 

I too am delirously happy the Ukrainians are kicking some serious Ruskie ass.

A quick check shows a large number of stamps / cards available on eBay if you really want them.

A thoroughly enjoyable analysis of Ukraine's latest military advances and Russia's humiliating and disorganized "regrouping".  Much like those videos about some lovable kennel dog finding his forever home or interspecies animal friendships (e.g. "Orphaned goat and blind tortoise are inseparable"), this one's just heart warming to watch.  Sure to bring a smile to your face.   

Interesting video and this was the first that I'd heard about units possibly surrendering in the Kherson region.  A quick search turned up a number of news articles claiming that this is the case, but nothing solid yet.  And the point about the only rail line which is still under Russian control being within range of Ukrainian attack is very bad news for Russia, since they don't really have any alternative means of supporting their troops.  If Ukraine is able to sever that, Russia's troops in Ukraine will be largely cut-off from resupply / reinforcement.

Of course, the real worry here is still Putin and whether he might take the stance of: "If I can't win, then at least I can make sure that everyone else loses." Because as of this moment, there are still a few lines that he hasn't crossed.

I'm sure that it's not intentional, but I couldn't help but chuckle at the centerpiece in the room where they're holding the summit between Russia and China.  Looks a lot like a flower-covered coffin, doesn't it?  Almost like they're mourning Russia's chances at winning this thing! 

https://www.cnn.com/2022/09/15/asia/xi-putin-meeting-main-bar-intl-hnk/index.html

Quote from: EBuff75 on September 15, 2022, 02:39:10 PMI'm sure that it's not intentional, but I couldn't help but chuckle at the centerpiece in the room where they're holding the summit between Russia and China.  Looks a lot like a flower-covered coffin, doesn't it?  Almost like they're mourning Russia's chances at winning this thing! 

https://www.cnn.com/2022/09/15/asia/xi-putin-meeting-main-bar-intl-hnk/index.html

I noticed that too!  Kharma or is Xi sending Putin a subtle message to cool it before things get really bad?

https://www.nytimes.com/live/2022/09/15/world/ukraine-russia-war/a-mass-grave-site-with-440-bodies-was-found-in-izium-a-police-official-said?smid=url-share

It's things like this that morally disqualify Putin from making any kind of justification for this war. The US made some mistakes and had a few bad apples during our 20 years in Afghanistan.  But nothing even approaching the scale of what Russia has done in 6 months.

Quote from: majorhavoc on September 15, 2022, 05:05:03 PMhttps://www.nytimes.com/live/2022/09/15/world/ukraine-russia-war/a-mass-grave-site-with-440-bodies-was-found-in-izium-a-police-official-said?smid=url-share

It's things like this that morally disqualify Putin from making any kind of justification for this war. The US made some mistakes and had a few bad apples during our 20 years in Afghanistan.  But nothing even approaching the scale of what Russia has done in 6 months.

Here's the archive site, for those who get stuck at the paywall:   https://web.archive.org/web/20220916090005/https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/16/world/europe/a-mass-grave-site-with-440-bodies-was-found-in-izium-a-police-official-said.html

Quote[color=var(--color-content-secondary,#363636)]Anton Gerashchenko, an adviser to Ukraine's minister of internal affairs who [color=var(--color-signal-editorial,#326891)]traveled to Izium with Mr. Zelensky[/color] on Wednesday, told [color=var(--color-signal-editorial,#326891)]the BBC on Thursday[/color] that about 1,000 dead bodies had been found in the city since it was liberated last week.[/color]
[color=var(--color-content-secondary,#363636)]"We were shocked to see the destruction of the city," he said, speaking through a translator. "We have found already, for now, around 1,000 dead bodies, so we must say that this tragedy is even worse than the tragedy in Bucha," where retreating Russian forces [color=var(--color-signal-editorial,#326891)]left at least 458 bodies[/color] on the streets and in buildings, gardens and makeshift graves at the end of March. [color=var(--color-signal-editorial,#326891)]The New York Times documented[/color] the torture, rape and execution of civilians by Russian soldiers in Bucha, a town a few miles west of Kyiv, after Moscow abandoned its push to take the capital.[/color]
[color=var(--color-content-secondary,#363636)]Mr. Bolvinov told Sky News that the grave site in Izium was "one of the biggest burials in one liberated city." The Ukrainian authorities, he added, were aware of other burial sites in areas of the Kharkiv region that had been under Russian control.[/color]

And, of course, this is all on top of the mass kidnappings deportations Russia has admitted to:  https://news.yahoo.com/russia-claims-deported-over-million-194837950.html

QuoteRussia says it has "evacuated" over a million people to its territory, including 183,000 children, "from dangerous areas of Ukraine" and CADLR (certain areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions) since the beginning of the war.

And note that this was claimed back in April.  

QuoteGenocide is an internationally recognized crime where acts are committed with the intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial, or religious group. These acts fall into five categories:

• Killing members of the group
• Causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group
• Deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part
• Imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group
• Forcibly transferring children of the group to another group

https://www.ushmm.org/genocide-prevention/learn-about-genocide-and-other-mass-atrocities/what-is-genocide


When you take all that into consideration of Putin's early claims of "denazification," it starts to paint a pretty coherent picture.

Oh boy.

Putin sets partial military call-up, won't 'bluff' on nukes
By KARL RITTER, Associated Press - 7h ago

QuoteRussian President Vladimir Putin ordered a partial mobilization of reservists in Russia on Wednesday, risking a deeply unpopular step that follows a string of humiliating setbacks for his troops nearly seven months after invading Ukraine.

It's the first call-up in Russia since World War II and is sure to further fuel tensions with the Western backers of Ukraine, who derided the move as an act of weakness. The move also sent Russians scrambling to buy plane tickets out of the country.

It comes after Russian authorities tried to recruit more fighters into volunteer battalions and amid reports of widespread recruitment in prisons, as the Kremlin has struggled to replenish its troops.

The Russian leader, in a seven-minute televised address to the nation aired Wednesday morning, also warned the West that he isn't bluffing over using all the means at his disposal to protect Russia's territory, in what appeared to be a veiled reference to Russia's nuclear capability. Putin has previously warned the West not to back Russia against the wall and has rebuked NATO countries for supplying weapons to help Ukraine.

The total number of reservists to be called up could be as high as 300,000, officials said.

Even a partial mobilization is likely to increase dismay, or sow doubt, among Russians about the war in Ukraine. Shortly after Putin's address, Russian media reported a sharp spike in demand for plane tickets abroad amid an apparent scramble to leave despite exorbitant prices for flights.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, who was asked what had changed since he and others previously said no mobilization was planned, argued that Russia is effectively fighting against NATO because the alliance's members have been supplying weapons to Kyiv.

The partial mobilization order came a day after Russian-controlled regions in eastern and southern Ukraine announced plans to hold votes on becoming integral parts of Russia — a move that could set the stage for Moscow to escalate the war. The referendums will start Friday in the Luhansk, Kherson and partly Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia and Donetsk regions.

The ballots are all but certain to go Moscow's way. Foreign leaders have described the ballots as illegitimate and nonbinding. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said they were a "sham" and "noise" to distract public attention.

Putin's speech is "definitely a sign that he's struggling, and we know that," U.S. national security council spokesperson John Kirby said.

Putin has suffered tens of thousands of casualties, has command and control issues, terrible troop morale, desertion problems and is "forcing the wounded back (into) the fight," Kirby said on ABC's "Good Morning America."

Only those with relevant combat and service experience will be mobilized, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said. He added about 25 million people fit this criteria but only around 1% of them will be mobilized.

Another key clause in the decree prevents most professional soldiers from terminating their contracts and leaving service until the partial mobilization is no longer in place.

Putin's announcement came as the U.N. General Assembly was taking place in New York. Moscow's invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24 has been the target of broad international criticism at the assembly that has kept up intense diplomatic pressure on Moscow.

Zelenskky is due to address the gathering in a prerecorded address on Wednesday. Putin didn't travel to New York.

Putin's gambit has a strong element of risk — it could backfire by making the Ukraine war unpopular at home and hurting his own standing. It also concedes that Russia has underlying military shortcomings.

A spokesman for Zelenskyy called the mobilization a "big tragedy" for the Russian people.

In a statement to The Associated Press, Sergii Nikiforov said conscripts sent to the front line in Ukraine would face a similar fate as ill-prepared Russian forces who were repelled in an attack on Kyiv in the first days of the war.

"This is a recognition of the incapacity of the Russian professional army, which has failed in all its tasks," Nikiforov said.

The Russian mobilization is unlikely to produce any consequences on the battlefield for months because of a lack of training facilities and equipment.

The U.S. ambassador to Ukraine, Bridget Brink, tweeted that the mobilization is a sign "of weakness, of Russian failure." British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace echoed that assessment, describing Putin's move as "an admission that his invasion is failing."

Russian political analyst Dmitry Oreshkin said Putin's announcement smacked of "an act of desperation." He predicted that Russians will resist the mobilization through "passive sabotage."

"People will evade this mobilization in every possible way, bribe their way out of this mobilization, leave the country," Oreshkin told The Associated Press on Wednesday.

The announcement won't go down well with the general public, Oreshkin said, describing it as "a huge personal blow to Russian citizens, who until recently (took part in the hostilities) with pleasure, sitting on their couches, (watching) TV. And now the war has come into their home."

The war in Ukraine, which has killed thousands of people, has driven up food prices worldwide and caused energy costs to soar. It has also brought fears of a potential nuclear catastrophe at Europe's largest nuclear plant in Ukraine's now Russia-occupied southeast. Investigations are also underway into possible war crimes atrocities committed by Russian forces in Ukraine.

In his address, which was far shorter than previous speeches about the Ukraine war, Putin accused the West of engaging in "nuclear blackmail" and noted "statements of some high-ranking representatives of the leading NATO states about the possibility of using nuclear weapons of mass destruction against Russia."

He didn't identify who had made such comments.

"To those who allow themselves such statements regarding Russia, I want to remind you that our country also has various means of destruction ... and when the territorial integrity of our country is threatened, to protect Russia and our people, we will certainly use all the means at our disposal," Putin said.

He added: "It's not a bluff."

Putin said he has already signed the decree for partial mobilization, which starts immediately, and stressed its limited scale.

"We are talking about partial mobilization, that is, only citizens who are currently in the reserve will be subject to conscription, and above all, those who served in the armed forces who have a certain military specialty and relevant experience," Putin said.

Shoigu also said Wednesday that 5,937 Russian soldiers have died in the Ukraine conflict, far lower than Western estimates that Russia has lost tens of thousands.

The Vesna opposition movement called for nationwide protests on Wednesday.

"Thousands of Russian men -- our fathers, brothers and husbands -- will be thrown into the meat grinder of the war. What will they be dying for? What will mothers and children be crying for?" the group said.

Yet it was unclear how many would protest given Russia's harsh laws against criticizing the military.

A few takeaways from this:

• Russia bit off more than it could chew.  I think most of us have realized that already, but declaring even a partial mobilization is a tacit admission that Russia has lost a substantial chunk of its combat forces in this "special military operation," and that they are losing ground in Ukraine.  More importantly, I believe Russian leadership is afraid that they won't be able to hide it from their people.
• Given the amount of time it takes to train, equip, and deploy even troops that basically amount to little more than cannon fodder, this partial mobilization likely won't have any immediate, direct impacts on the battlefield.  Particularly when you consider Russia's logistical failings to this point.  I suspect this mobilization provides a means to neuter any potential unrest (which also indicates that they are concerned about potential unrest), by mobilizing protestors.
• The claimed reason for the mobilization is a pretty big deal, particularly in combination with the referendums in Russian-held territory.  By claiming that Russia is in a fight against NATO, and not just Ukraine, they can try to explain away the losses and lack of progress.  More importantly, though, that claim will be of greater significance when the sham referendums come back with 105% of votes in favor of Russia.  Now that mobilization is necessary, see, not because Ukraine is kicking their asses, but because they are "fighting against NATO" on integral Russian territory, it's a defensive war against annihilation from the West, and now Putin is justified in carrying out the threats he's made about using nukes.
• That's why this referendum is so critical now.  Putin's previous threats about "not backing Russia up against a wall" are pretty ridiculous when all he has to do is stop invading.  But now, if he can point to a vote to back his claim that those are Russian territories, well, now he just can't leave Russian territory to be invaded by NATO.  Fighting a defensive war against NATO would justify using non-conventional weapons, so that's the story he has to sell if he wants to hold on to power.
• Basically, this is a "Hail Mary" pass late in the 4th quarter.  Putin has backed himself into a corner, and this is his only way out, at least, the only way that doesn't involve a 6th floor window.

Quote from: Mr. E. Monkey on September 21, 2022, 09:50:08 AMOh boy.

QuoteRussian President Vladimir Putin ordered a partial mobilization of reservists in Russia on Wednesday, risking a deeply unpopular step that follows a string of humiliating setbacks for his troops nearly seven months after invading Ukraine.


[snip]

The Russian leader, in a seven-minute televised address to the nation on Wednesday morning, also warned the West that he isn't bluffing about using all the means at his disposal to protect Russia's territory, in what appeared to be a veiled reference to Russia's nuclear capability.

[snip]

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov [...] argued that Russia is effectively fighting against NATO because the alliance's members have been supplying weapons to Kyiv.

The partial mobilization order came a day after Russian-controlled regions in eastern and southern Ukraine announced plans to hold votes on becoming integral parts of Russia — a move that could set the stage for Moscow to escalate the war. The referendums will start Friday in the Luhansk, Kherson and partly Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia and Donetsk regions.

The ballots are all but certain to go Moscow's way. Foreign leaders have described the ballots as illegitimate and nonbinding. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said they were a "sham" and "noise" to distract public attention.

[snip]

[Putin:] "To those who allow themselves such statements regarding Russia, I want to remind you that our country also has various means of destruction ... and when the territorial integrity of our country is threatened, to protect Russia and our people, we will certainly use all the means at our disposal," Putin said.

He added: "It's not a bluff."

A few takeaways from this:

[snip]

• The claimed reason for the mobilization is a pretty big deal, particularly in combination with the referendums in Russian-held territory.  By claiming that Russia is in a fight against NATO, and not just Ukraine, they can try to explain away the losses and lack of progress.  [...] Now that mobilization is necessary, see, not because Ukraine is kicking their asses, but because they are "fighting against NATO" on integral Russian territory, it's a defensive war against annihilation from the West, and now Putin is justified in carrying out the threats he's made about using nukes.
• That's why this referendum is so critical now.  Putin's previous threats about "not backing Russia up against a wall" are pretty ridiculous when all he has to do is stop invading.  But now, if he can point to a vote to back his claim that those are Russian territories, well, now he just can't leave Russian territory to be invaded by NATO.  [...]
• Basically, this is a "Hail Mary" pass late in the 4th quarter.  Putin has backed himself into a corner, and this is his only way out, at least, the only way that doesn't involve a 6th floor window.

Tightening this up a bit so other readers can understand what Mr. E Monkey is getting at and why this latest development is truly terrifying. These rigged referenda in Russian-held territories will be cover for their outright annexation. At which point they become sovereign Russian lands.

Russian will then be able to claim a NATO-backed Ukraine is no longer fighting to take back contested parts of its own country, but rather will be invading Russia itself.

Putin knows damn well the West will never consider these referenda as anything other than a sham. So the only possible reason to proceed with them now is to establish a narrative that Russia is in an existential fight with the West. And therefore justification to use any means necessary to defend the motherland. Up to and including, if necessary, chemical and/or nuclear weapons.

This isn't the situation Putin wanted, but it's the one he finds himself in following his military and geopolitical miscalculations. His last, best hope to avoid this was to delay or decide not to hold these referenda.  Since he has chosen not to do that, I believe he is legitimately contemplating a wider war with the West.

Some of the worst catastrophes in history came about because nations inadvertently found themselves on a path to a ruinous war, and couldn't find an off ramp in time to avert it.

Thank you for the tl;dr!  

QuotePutin knows damn well the West will never consider these referenda as anything other than a sham. So the only possible reason to proceed with them now is to establish a narrative that Russia is in an existential fight with the West. And therefore justification to use any means necessary to defend the motherland. Up to and including, if necessary, chemical and/or nuclear weapons.

Exactly, and he has to do it now, while he is still holding enough territory to make it possible.

I'm pretty sure that framing this as an invasion of Russia by NATO/"the west" is mostly for domestic consumption--after the losses they've taken, he's likely pretty worried about a coup at this point.  But I'm sure it is also an attempt to sway opinions in other countries, too:  "guys, I'm really serious this time, we have nukes we can use!"

Frankly, at this point, I would not be surprised one bit to see a false-flag operation in Russia to help "sell" the existential threat; he needs to make sure that if he gives the order to use WMD, his people will actually follow through with it.

I saw something online recently about a T-90M tank which had been captured in Ukraine.  Apparently, it had suffered some damage to one of the treads and the crew abandoned it (insert joke here involving a farmer and a tractor if you want).  The discussion then turned to differences in training and doctrine between the west and Russia. 

In the west, tank crews are trained on basic maintenance and repairs for their equipment.  Obviously, they can't repair everything, but minor issues can frequently be resolved by the crew without needing to call in specialized repair crews.  On the other hand, Russian doctrine is that crews call for assistance whenever something goes wrong, or they simply abandon the equipment and wait for it be recovered / repaired by specialized units while they pick up a replacement to use. 

It's that last part which is the issue.  Their logistics are such a nightmare that if they abandon a piece of equipment, there isn't necessarily going to be anything to replace it with.  In this case, they simply didn't have time to wait for repairs, due to the speed of the Ukrainian advance.  And a stationary tank isn't going to last long in a battlefield environment.

So Ukraine (or possibly NATO, since this was a state-of-the-art tank with all the latest armor, mechanicals, targeting, and communication gear) gets a free tank that only needs to have a tread repair, and Russia loses an important ground assault element.

Here's the link to the Facebook discussion around the photo.  Warning, there is a lot of politics involved with both pro-Ukraine and pro-Russian sentiment running rampant (and a few genuinely funny comments).  I.e., typical FB stuff... 
https://www.facebook.com/battle.machines2012/posts/pfbid02seSd6Ej42xwhxvegpfxXsXZNLpV3vkXALX6RcfRhrnCamaNg7EEW1Cc79wjGyb7ql